Earlier today during a press conference, U.S. House Representatives George Miller D- 7th district, CA, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5th district,WA, unveiled,
The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act
H.R. 4247: To prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, and for other purposes
This bill would establish the first federal standards to protect students from misuse of restraint and seclusion and ensure the safety of everyone in the classroom. It would apply to public schools, private schools and preschools receiving federal education support.
Specifically H.R. 4247 would:
- Establish important minimum federal safety standards in schools, similar to the protections already in place in hospitals and other non-medical community based facilities
- Limit physical restraint and locked seclusion, allowing these interventions only when there is imminent danger of injury, and only when imposed by trained staff;
- Outlaw mechanical restraints, such as strapping kids to chairs, and prohibit restraints that restrict breathing;
- Require schools to notify parents after incidents when restraint or seclusion was used;
- Call on states, within two years of enactment, to establish their own policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement systems to meet these minimum standards;
- Encourage states to provide support and training to better protect students and prevent the need for emergency behavioral interventions; and
- Increase transparency, oversight and enforcement tools to prevent future abuse.
Excellent Fact Sheets and descriptions are provided at the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor's website on provisions in The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) including,
FACT SHEET: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act
on December 9, 2009 11:30 AM Kittredge, Betsy Miller
Protecting All Children in School
also,
Definitions of Terms Used in the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act
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Other references and past blog posts
Autism Speaks endorses H.R. 4247
TODAY: Bipartisan Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Protect All Children in Schools from Abuse
December 9, 2009 9:08 AM
House Committee on Education and Labor blog
Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act
December 9, 2009 11:30 AM
House Committee on Education and Labor blog
NEWS: December 9 Introduction of Federal Bill on School Restraint and Seclusion
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG blog
Lawmakers Unveil Restraint And Seclusion Bill To End ‘Nightmare Of Abuse’
Michelle Diament
Disability Scoop, December 9, 2009
Bill aims to protect students from abuse in schools
Patricia E. Bauer, December 9th, 2009
Lawmakers Seek Halt To Abuses Of Disabled Kids In School
National Public Radio Health Blog, December 9, 2009
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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org
Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org
